Pakistan seeks China’s help to manufacture semiconductors

Chaudhry hopes China will join hands with Pakistan due to its cheaper labour, huge market

BEIJING:

In a bid to pursue self-sufficiency in the manufacturing of gadgets and for opening new developmental avenues, Pakistan has proposed an ambitious plan to build a semiconductor zone with China’s help.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain revealed this in an interview.

He said that during Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the neighbouring country, the two sides discussed the shifting of the semiconductors industry to Pakistan as it was beneficial for both.

“We want Chinese tech companies to come to Pakistan and make Pakistan a hub of semiconductors manufacturing," he added.

It is worth mentioning here that Chaudhry previously served as the federal minister for science and technology. During his tenure, he signed many memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements on semiconductors and also collaborated with China to train Pakistanis in the sector.

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"We will also like to start semiconductor designing in Pakistan. I am very happy to tell you that Chinese investors are very keen to join hands with Pakistan and the technology zone will be converted into a semiconductor zone," the minister said.

He said that there was a huge area in science and technology where both countries could cooperate.

He pointed out that mobile phones were now being assembled in Pakistan, but they would like to take a step further and start full-fledged manufacturing of mobile phones in Pakistan.

He further said that bilateral cooperation had increased in the sector pertaining to health-related equipment. In the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan was importing everything related to this sector but now it is a major exporter of the same, he added.

“This is a landmark that we have achieved within a short period and now the health sector is open to collaboration. Pakistan has skilled labour, cheaper labour, and a huge market. We hope that Chinese tech companies will join hands with Pakistan to join our technology zone, and we will be able to come up with bigger cooperation in these sectors,” Chaudhry said.

He hoped that many Chinese tech companies would come to Pakistan after the premier’s visit because semiconductors are the core of every gadget, which would help bring value addition to the local manufacturing industry.

It is worth noting that during his visit, Prime Minister Imran held a series of meetings with leaders of China's leading technology companies, and both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in software development, information and communication technology, medical diagnostic, and other related sectors.